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New or increased recreation fees proposed for seven sites, including Uwharrie

ASHEVILLE — Recreation managers at the U.S. Forest Service want to make visitors aware of a proposal to increase fees or adopt a new fee at seven recreation sites within the national forests in North Carolina, including at Uwharrie National Forest in Randolph County.

* Cedar Point Campground — Rental fees would increase from $12 to $20 for single campsites per night, and the electrical surcharge would increase from $5 to $7. Campsite fees have not increased in 15 years, while operation and maintenance costs have risen.

Uwharrie National Forest

* Arrowhead Campground — Rental fees for single campsites would increase from $12 to $18 per night and from $24 to $36 at double sites. The electrical surcharge would increase from $3 to $7 per night. High visitation has increased maintenance costs. Additional revenue will help pay for the costs of campground hosts, as well as maintaining and operating water, sewage and other facilities.

* Canebrake Horse Camp — Rental fees for single and double campsites would be the same as the Arrowhead Campground. All sites have electrical hookups; the electrical surcharge would increase from $0 to $7. High visitation has increased maintenance costs. Additional revenue will help pay for the costs of campground hosts, as well as maintaining and operating water, sewage and other facilities.

Pisgah National Forest

* Sliding Rock Recreation Area — Daily fee would increase from $1 to $2. Annual passes would remain at $25. Additional revenue is required to operate this extremely popular site, which often receives 1,000 or more people a day. Fee revenue will provide expanded hours for lifeguards and pay for the maintenance of a highly used site.

Nantahala National Forest

The fee increases would standardize rates across the three shooting ranges. The fees are needed to address the maintenance needs and costs associated with increased visitation.

* Dirty John Shooting Range — Daily fee would increase from $3 per vehicle to $3 per person. Annual fee would increase from $7 per vehicle to $25 per person.

* Moss Knob Shooting Range — Daily fee would increase from $0 to $3 per person. Annual fee would increase from $0 to $25 per person. This is the only new fee across the four national forests.

* Panther Top Shooting Range — Daily fee would increase from $2 to $3 per person. Annual fee would remain the same at $25 per person.

* Purchasing the annual pass will allow shooters to use all three ranges in Nantahala National Forest.

All fee change proposals will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), which is expected to meet this spring. The time, location and agenda will be announced on www.fs.fed.us/r8/. If approved, the Forest Service will implement the fee changes later in 2013.

For more information, contact Delce Dyer, recreation program manager, at (828) 257-4256.